Lawrence Maleka recalls his favourite moments in The River'Actor Lawrence Maleka, who exited The River' season five as Zolani says his favourite moments in the telenovela were off-screen.
by Rae Seleme
07-02-2023 11:05
in Soapies
The River' actor, Lawrence Maleka as Zolani. Image via Twitter @1Magic
Big Brother Titans host Lawrence Maleka, who exited The River as Zolani this season opens up about his journey on the 1Magic telenovela.
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ALSO READ: No Zweli or Zolani': The River' fans on Lawrence Maleka's exit
LAWRENCE MALEKA EXITS IN 1MAGIC TELENOVELA The award-winning actor Lawrence Maleka broke The River fans hearts when his character Zolani got killed on the show on Friday, 3 February.
Maleka tells Drum that his favourite moments as the cocky and saucy Zolani Dlamini on the show were behind-the-scenes.
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Unfortunately, [my favourite moments on The River] are everything we've done off-screen. There are moments that I wish sometimes we could capture for people. If you think those people are crazy, you should see them off-screen.
Maleka's friends held a farewell picnic party for him as he bowed out of season 5 of The River, after being his aunt Lindiwe Madlabantu' Dikana's right-hand man for five seasons.
The actor also reminisces about acting alongside Sindi Dlathu and says doing scenes with her was one of the magical moments .
After getting to know each other for a few days while shooting the first scenes of the telenovela, Sindi rested her head on his shoulder. As ecstatic as the moment was, it became the beginning of the greatest bond between the two, on and off the screen. Ever since then, she's always been there. We've discussed scripts, we've discussed everything.
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ALSO READ: The River's' Nokuthula Ledwaba: She's an orphan trying to survive'
HOW THE RIVER' ACTORS AND DIRECTORS INTERPRET THE SCRIPT The River actor Lawrence Maleka says Zolani's character was initially not written with him in mind but he scored the role after winning the heart of Mzansi with his township language and his bond with Lindiwe.
Actors and directors take the script and interpret in a way that would work best [for both] and Lawrence really did that in a way that exceeded our expectations. So, a lot of the stories that were subsequently written were generated because of who Lawrence became as uZolani and the chemistry he had with uSindi Dlathu [and other actors] - the chemistry you wouldn't find on paper, one of the writers said in a panel reflecting on Lawrence's journey with the award-winning 1Magic telenovela.
The 32-year-old thanks the cast and crew members of the telenovela for not receiving him as a rough diamond but as a peer and an equal, even as the newbie he was when he joined The River back in 2018.
ALSO READ:Actor Hlomla Dandala exited The River' [WATCH]
ALSO READ: The River' review: Paulina grieves heartbreaking loss' of baby
Lawrence Maleka says goodbye to his character, Zolani, from The River. #TheRiver1Magic #AnEraEndsZolani pic.twitter.com/QmbHulEiFu
TRUELOVE Magazine (@TrueLoveMag) February 4, 2023
The way Lindiwe and Zolani were so close. I feel her pain . #TheRiver1Magic https://t.co/QJM3oCTolG
LUCKY (@LuckyMahloane) February 6, 2023
#TheRiver1Magic Buy a huge packet of tissues because you are about to witness Sindi Dlathu's greatest acting skill on Zolani's funeral pic.twitter.com/nfMl3PJ0Rl
(@Jabu_Macdonald) February 6, 2023
BREAKING:
Lawrence Maleka has resigned.
Maleka will not be returning to play Zolani Dlamini on #TheRiver1Magic Season 6. #KgopoloReports
More details coming up on #TheEntertainmentAlert. pic.twitter.com/FGvKqohGQD
Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) October 17, 2022
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Lawrence Maleka recalls his favourite moments in The River'Actor Lawrence Maleka, who exited The River' season five as Zolani says his favourite moments in the telenovela were off-screen. 
